Part 9

Viola paced up and down in her apartment. It was just so completely unfair. What had she ever done to deserve anything like this? She had never asked to be a vampire.

She had never wanted anything to do with the Night World. And she never wanted to lay eyes on Aubrey Redfern ever again. He'd sent his little pets after her. Bellona and Camilla had come to drag her back to the mansion...

So much for a normal life. Viola had been longing to be normal again for over a hundred years.

She had thought that finally, *finally* she had found somewhere that she could settle down. Some of the people she had met had at least seemed nice. Coral and Morpheus were okay, she liked them. Nerissa was a bitch, but that went with her territory.

And Taylor...

She still couldn't stop thinking about him. He didn't seem to pay her any attention. It was all Nerissa's fault as well. What did Nerissa have that Viola didn't?

Viola had told herself she wouldn't let this happen. She wouldn't fall in love with a guy she hardly knew and start obsessing.

But she had. She couldn't help herself.

And now that Bellona and Camilla had found her, everything was all over.

Then again...who said she had to go with them? She could face up to them, give into her nature and kill them. Solve the problem herself. She could show them she wasn't afraid.

She had something she wanted. She would defend her new life. She refused to let Aubrey push her around anymore. She wasn't going to be his victim.

The only problem was Taylor. How did she make him hers, without revealing herself to him?

She sighed. That was going to require some planning.

* * *














Something very weird was going on. Taylor was absolutely sure of it. Somehow it was all related to Viola.

It had been a week since she'd arrived now, and in all that time he found himself thinking of nothing but her...

It was absurd, really, considered he didn't know a thing about her apart from her name.

Nerissa of course, was extremely jealous. Taylor didn't know why though. It wasn't like he was seeing Viola behind her back or something.

Nerissa seemed to have made some new friends as well. He never saw the girls in class, but they were always hanging around.

Viola seemed afraid of them. She claimed she didn't know them, but it was pretty obvious she was lying. She had withdrawn from his group, She wouldn't even talk to Coral, anymore. She sat alone most of the time.

Yet she always moved with her head high and with dignity, as if she wasn't going to let anybody push her around.

Then her mind was confused.

Viola Redfern was a very confusing person.

Taylor felt sure if she would talk to someone and get everything one in the open she would feel better.

He found himself waiting for her by her locker. He needed to get her somewhere private.

Viola looked surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?" he moved aside as she opened her locker and put her books away.

"We need to talk." He had been debating on what to say to her, and had finally settled for the truth. "There's something going on with you, and I don't know why, but lately, you're all I can think about."

Viola stared at him with obvious surprise. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She didn't look too pleased.

She clearly realised he wasn't going to go away unless she gave him some answers.

"All right," she said reluctantly. "But not here. Let's go to my apartment."

Taylor nodded and followed her out the door.

He didn't realise he wasn't the only one following Viola.

* * *






The entire story took about an hour. Once finished, Viola forced herself to look at Taylor. "You don't believe me," she said flatly.

Taylor looked back at her, his expression somewhere between disbelief and amusement. "I don't know what to believe," he said finally. "It's just...it sounds so...unbelievable."

Viola looked unhappy. "It's not like I asked for any of this." Her voice was soft.

She tried to keep the tears in her eyes from spilling over. Taylor moved and sat awkwardly beside her. He tried to put an uncomfortable arm around her shoulder. Viola shrugged him off. "Don't," she whispered.

He was confused. "Why not? I thought you liked me."

"I do, it's just..." Viola trailed off, wondering how to say what say what she meant to. She decided to *show* him instead. She could feel her canine teeth lengthening, extending to delicate points. She knew her eyes were taking on a silvery shimmer, her face was taking on a predatory look.

"It's just this is what I am. I'm a vampire. You're a human. Can you deal with it?"

Taylor hadn't jumped up and moved away, he hadn't turned away with disgust, he was looking shocked, but fascinated at the same time.

"It's true, isn't it?" he whispered. "God, it's really true."

Viola nodded. "It's true."

Taylor's finger reached out to touch one fang. He pressed the tip of his finger against the end of the sharp point and pulled it away, staring at the drop of blood.

Viola had learned enough self control not to pounce grab him for more blood. Taylor turned back to her. He reached out and lifted her chin so her eyes met his directly.

He pulled her close and kissed her deeply. Viola felt her fangs retracting, and her face going back to normal. At the same time something else was happening.

Something that was completely beyond her experience.

* * *











A startling white light sparkled, engulfing Viola. A feeling like an electric shock ran up her nerves. What was this thing? Taylor's arms were wrapping tightly around her in a warm embrace.

The light blooming between them seemed to be opening some sort of connection, pulling her mind to his, and his to hers. Viola almost pulled away from it, then realised maybe it wasn't a bad thing. Taylor could see her memories, know all the pain Aubrey had put her through.

He would realise it was all true. And as he did. She could feel his shock, his anger at the brutal way she had been treated.

~How could he *do* that to you?~ Taylor was thinking.

Viola held him tighter. ~He didn't give me a choice,~ she whispered.

~He won't hurt you anymore,~ Taylor's voice was concerned, filled with rage and hatred for Aubrey. Protectiveness for her.

This wonderful connection between them allowed one to feel directly how the other was feeling. It was incredible. She was happy and content in Taylor's arms, the two of them basking in the white glow.

"What *is* this thing?" Taylor asked softly.

The white light faded slightly. Viola thought about it. She didn't actually *know* that much about the Night World. She remembered when she had first fallen in love with him, Aubrey had told her they were soulmates. It was a concept in the Night World, an idea that there was only one true love for everyone on earth, when you met that person you knew they were the one for you.

She had believed Aubrey was her soulmate.

"Well he's not," Taylor's voice was harsh.

Viola realised her thoughts must still be available to him. She kissed him, feeling fire running along her nerves. "No," she agreed. "You are."

Taylor smiled. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could the door burst open. Viola turned, and her mouth dropped in shock.

"You should have known you can't escape me."

Aubrey stood blocking the door.

* * *